North seeks four-way nuke talks

SEOUL – North Korea’s top military official has proposed talks with South Korea, China and the United States to discuss its nuclear weapons program, but the proposal was met with skepticism in Seoul and Washington, Yonhap News Agency reported from Beijing on Tuesday, citing a diplomatic source.

“Vice Marshal Choe made the proposal for the four-party talks during his visit to Beijing in May, but such talks are unlikely because there is no pledge from Pyongyang to take sincere steps toward denuclearization,” the source said, referring to the vice marshal of the North Korean People’s Army, Choe Ryong Hae.

“The U.S. side won’t agree to hold such talks unless North Korea meets preconditions on denuclearization,” the source said.